APX2 Skate - The NHL's preferred skate?

[Souldriver 64]

I would think you could switch to composite and tweak the composite for different stiffnesses akin to how its done with stick flex.

[flip12 717]

AFIK, from reading on here, Bauer only offers custom options to go stiffer than the retail stiffness of their CURV boots. The only companies that sort of do the tuning thing, both up and down in stiffness level with composite boots, are Graf and VH Footwear (SVH mentioned that he could make a more comfortable, less stiff, "ref's skate" if someone wanted, in the VH Footwear thread).

[decoy 164]

During the lockout a couple years ago, Toews came into the shop I work at with two brand new pair of skates (one of which was a pair of Vapor 7.0's dressed to look like NXG's) and as we were heating them for him, I asked how many pair he goes through a year. He said about 3-4 pair per season, since he likes the feeling of a fresh, stiff boot, but not the overly stiff composite boots.

We saw Sharp in a few times too, and he is still in the old Vapor XXX skates that are dressed to look like the latest tech mesh Vapor skate on the market. Kane, on the other hand, was in a composite boot.

Is this the skate?

[Durbo20vT 4]

There's a pair of Kane's old "vapors" on eBay which appear to be One90's construction in vapor XXXX cosmetics...

[raganblink 82]

AFIK, from reading on here, Bauer only offers custom options to go stiffer than the retail stiffness of their CURV boots. The only companies that sort of do the tuning thing, both up and down in stiffness level with composite boots, are Graf and VH Footwear (SVH mentioned that he could make a more comfortable, less stiff, "ref's skate" if someone wanted, in the VH Footwear thread).

You can go down from their retail stiffness. They have a 4 point scale. 2 is stock stiffness, so you can get a boot softer than stock. I haven't ordered a pair with that stiffness though, so I'm not sure how stiff it really is.

[hawkeyfan 36]

I think what is amazing about this post is that people are shocked that p

Ayer a A or B has a reskinned skate. Me myself can say...I cannot get my foot into anything Graf (retail). Cannot get anything vapor on my foot. The supreme start to fit and I have supreme 0ne60 in EE and they where tight and I had to get them punched and they are so much better. My point is do you think all these guys have small feet? Bauer will market skater and style based on their marketing plan.

it is cool to see that they play in different levels of skates and not just the top line.

I have been trying to convince my buddy who is a huge Blackhawks fan that a lot of the pros do not use composite boots. I feel another reason why they may use the non composite is because of the sheer number of pairs they go through a season. A few years ago taking a walk through the Hawks locker room I noticed a stack of about 15 boxes of skates all with Toews name on them, this walk through was around November. I would really like to know the total number of pairs a player will go through each season.

A few years back there was an article that Keith was blowing through skates. Basically it was discovered that he was having an issue with one foot/side and all the skates that where being made for him by CCM all had similar faults/ issues with him.

Anyone know that many skaters feet are different sizes. All of my kids have a short foot like dad (1/2 size shorter) always measure both feet.

[jonesy9020 77]

Most if not all pro players are using custom lasted skates, so the different fit profile of skate lines at retail doesn't really matter to them.

[flip12 717]

A few years back there was an article that Keith was blowing through skates. Basically it was discovered that he was having an issue with one foot/side and all the skates that where being made for him by CCM all had similar faults/ issues with him.

I think it was Bauer rather. He's been in Bauer his whole professional career, with a little bit of time in VH for part of a game.

You can go down from their retail stiffness. They have a 4 point scale. 2 is stock stiffness, so you can get a boot softer than stock. I haven't ordered a pair with that stiffness though, so I'm not sure how stiff it really is.

Thanks for correcting this. I didn't mean to be spreading misinformation. I was just restating what I thought I had read in the Custom Bauer Skates thread.

[mikey1967 0]

Out of interest can anybody advise on the proportion of retail sales of the Bauer skate lines?

[jonesy9020 77]

So I know there's a tech mesh Vapor 7.0 dressed as a Supreme on this page itself, but it seems like, at least with my own highly unscientific eyeball test, there's a much higher percentage of NHL players wearing tech mesh Nexus and Vapor skates than tech mesh Supreme skates. As a guesstimate, I'd say there are maybe 70% of Vapor/Nexus pros in curv boots, with the remaining 30% still in tech mesh. In contrast, I honestly can't say the last time that I saw a tech mesh Supreme boot in the pros. I know the most recent Supreme line doesn't really have a pro-level tech mesh option, but I'd think the old One.8 would be equivalent to the X90 most players like, and that Bauer would do a custom pro-stiff tech mesh Supreme skate if requested. Any explanations? Am I just wrong and the Supreme Tech Meshes are tougher to spot?

My hypothesis is that the Supreme line went to alive/curv composite construction way back in 2008 with the One95 and the APX wasn't released until 2011. Therefore, players with Supreme shape feet have had a longer time to adjust to the composite boot than Vapor guys. Would love to hear from some equipment managers or others in the know on this.

[Cavs019 710]

A tech mesh "Supreme" would be a custom Nexus 7000 in my view. Aside from aesthetic I don't see why they would need to add that to their custom offering, whereas the Nexus 7000 and Vapor x90 already exist on their own.

[duff14oct 9]

Except most of those "APX2" skates you're seeing are X90/X7.0/X:60s. A lot of players still skate on the tech mesh versions.

That's incorrect. There are more players wearing a Vapor boot with CURV construction than the tech mesh by a significant margin.

[slj0219 1]

Is this the skate?

That does look like it... I know it was a size 9 (on one foot, 8-7/8 on the other) with 288 holders.

[decoy 164]

There's a pair of Kane's old "vapors" on eBay which appear to be One90's construction in vapor XXXX cosmetics...

That's the Vapor X:60 skate.

[Durbo20vT 4]

That's the Vapor X:60 skate.

perhaps it is... from the rear, the contour around the ankles + mesh initially looked closer to the One90.

[snipes4u 1]

I use to work at a retail store and have played on/own most model of skates. I've also played pretty high level hockey. My take on it is this. It all depends on what you want out of a skate. Do you want power and straight up speed? If yes, go with a composite boot. Do you want agility out of a skate? Then go with a tech mesh boot. What most people don't realize (and the reason why most NHL players use a composite boot), is that your typical NHL player is about 6'3" 220 pounds. Most of those guys can flex the composite boot while they skate (mostly because they have that added weight) and the boot while actually respond to their stride. Your typical player (including myself) can never flex the boot or anything so it limits your ROM decreasing your agility on the ice. However, with a stiffer boot you are able to transfer more power to the boot/holder and onto the ice. I've skated on one95's/nxg's/apx2 and found that once I got going, I was gone, but my agility was meh. I currently own x90's/7.0/x60's and would never go to a composite skate considering how much I weigh and my size (I'm a smaller guy). If you look at the smaller NHL players they all use tech mesh boots. It's like why do most NHL players use 85/100 flexes? Well duh....because the stiffer the flex the harder the shot. True. But again, when I look at players in my beer league that use these sticks, they can never flex the shift and there shots suck. The bottom line is just because an NHL player uses it, does not mean it's the best for you and I. But Chara uses 160 flex stick!!! If I get it, I will shoot like Chara....this is true. lol

[adam14 182]

Just, before someone else grills you for it... A stiffer stick doesn't equate to a harder shot. Not even close.

[aviery 11]

Keeping a real close eye on game footage and pictures. Still seeing a vast majority leaning towards an APX2 skate and that skate being a CURV comp boot.

[snipes4u 1]

A stiffer stick DOES equate to a harder shot....you kidding me right now. If you can flex a 67flex stick 2" and flex a 85 flex 2" the 85 flex will get you a harder shot no doubt. Why does Chara use such a stiff stick? I'm not quite sure I could be wrong, but I don't think he would shoot the puck at the same speed if he was using a 60 flex stick. Again I could be wrong though.

[raganblink 82]

But if you use a 100 flex stick the 85 will give you a harder shot. If it doesn't, try out a 110 and you'll enjoy the 100 more. Its all about finding a sweet spot.

[JimmyTheDriver 36]

A stiffer stick DOES equate to a harder shot....you kidding me right now. If you can flex a 67flex stick 2" and flex a 85 flex 2" the 85 flex will get you a harder shot no doubt. Why does Chara use such a stiff stick? I'm not quite sure I could be wrong, but I don't think he would shoot the puck at the same speed if he was using a 60 flex stick. Again I could be wrong though.

A stiffer stick does give Chara a harder shot... because hes an absolute monster. It would not give me a harder shot... because I'm a skinny bitch. All depends on the shooter.

-Jim

[snipes4u 1]

Sigh. Missing the point. The stiffer the stick, it will generate more power period. As I said before, the problem is most people cannot flex the stick the required amount to generate any sort of power from it (i.e 100 flex stick). Get a machine to flex both a 60 flex stick by 4" and get the same machine to flex a 110 flex stick 4", the puck will come off faster and harder off the 110 flex stick. What actually happens in the real world is that the average person will flex a 70 flex stick maybe 2-3" while they take a 100 flex stick and maybe flex is 0.5". Because more flex is generated on the 70 flex, the puck will come off faster and harder on the 70 flex than the 100. Makes sense? No. Google it.

[chippa13 1844]

The stiffer stick has the "potential" to generate more power.

[JimmyTheDriver 36]

Sigh. Missing the point. The stiffer the stick, it will generate more power period. As I said before, the problem is most people cannot flex the stick the required amount to generate any sort of power from it (i.e 100 flex stick). Get a machine to flex both a 60 flex stick by 4" and get the same machine to flex a 110 flex stick 4", the puck will come off faster and harder off the 110 flex stick. What actually happens in the real world is that the average person will flex a 70 flex stick maybe 2-3" while they take a 100 flex stick and maybe flex is 0.5". Because more flex is generated on the 70 flex, the puck will come off faster and harder on the 70 flex than the 100. Makes sense? No. Google it.

Yes. Agreed.

[adam14 182]

you proved my point. I'm 6'2 205, and I shoot harder with an 85 flex than with a 100 flex stick. there are too many external factors to consider than to just blindly state anybody will shoot harder with a stiffer stick